“The “feeling of being stared at” is the focus of a subset of distant-mental-interaction studies. This is a particularly interesting belief to investigate because it is related to one of the oldest known superstitions in the Western world, the “evil eye,” and to one of the oldest known blessings in the Eastern world, the darshan, or gaze of an enlightened master. Most ancient peoples feared the evil eye and took measures to deflect the attraction of the eye, often by wearing shiny or attractive amulets around the neck. Today, most fears about the evil eye have subsided, at least among educated peoples. And yet many people still report the “feeling of being stared at” from a distance. Is this visceral feeling what it appears to be—a distant mental influence of the nervous system—or can it be better understood in more prosaic ways? In the laboratory today, the question is studied by separating two people and monitoring the first person’s nervous system (usually electrodermal activity) while the second person stares at the first at random times over a one-way closed-circuit video system. The stared-at person has no idea when the starer is looking at him or her. Figure 9.2. Effect sizes for studies testing the “feeling of being stared at,” where 50 percent is chance expectation. Confidence intervals are 95 percent. Figure 9.2 shows the results for staring studies conducted over eight decades.34 Similar to William Braud’s electrodermal studies but conducted in a context that more closely matched common descriptions of “feeling stared at,” these studies resulted in an overall effect of 63 percent where chance expectation is 50 percent. This is remarkably robust for a phenomenon that—according to conventional scientific models—is not supposed to exist. The combined studies result in odds against chance of 3.8 million to 1. Summary Given the evidence for psi perception and mind-matter interaction effects discussed so far, we could have expected that experiments involving living systems would also be successful. The studies discussed here show that our expectations are confirmed. The implications for distant healing are clear. All the experiments discussed so far have been replicated in the laboratory dozens to hundreds of times. They demonstrate that some of the “psychic” experiences people report probably do involve genuine psi. Now we move outside the laboratory to examine a new type of experiment, one that explores mind-matter interaction effects apparently associated with the collective attention of groups.”
― Dean Radin, The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena
The “feeling of being stared at”
7 MarDeath or Life Transition
23 FebDeath or Life Transition
An age-old question for human beings is why do we die – sometimes in a senseless, violent manner? Why do good people die young? This is what self-conscious beings ask. After reflecting more on this from a perspective of the teaching of the Buddha and Quantum Information Panpsychism, I thought to put in words some of thoughts on death.
A year ago, I read a short but interesting blog by Joe Goldfarb on his ethical dilemma of killing plants. He wrote, “For one organism to live another must die. There is no escaping this. Having a tiered value status of life, i.e. a mammal has a higher status than a plant, based on assigned arbitrary values is a false perception of reality. I believe in a reality of equality, not inequality, regardless of the form and capabilities of the organism. A bear does not have more value than a flower, for both their names, and bodies are not real. The only thing that is real is their life, of which they both have of equal value. With that said, it is the gift of life, which I acknowledge and respect… Even killing less life, one is still taking life. This is why Veganism has good intentions but is inherently flawed. Because of this moral problem, I have been studying Native American belief systems in hopes of finding a resolution.”
Now, I don’t know if he has resolved this moral problem for himself, but his thoughts point out an important fact: in life, there is death. After hearing the News, there were more seemingly endless situations where the lives of people being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, are ended. It could be a natural disaster or a killing or some other calamity, but the result is the same: death. Their lives are quickly ended. If one removes the usual eulogy of Cataphatic priests, rabbis, ministers, or Imams that God has a purpose that we don’t understand and the person who has died will be in the hands of God (perhaps) – we must admit, we just don’t know exactly why. Death happens.
Thus, death is as natural as living. Under various conditions, life flourishes or perishes. We have seen that stars and planets extinguish only to be reborn, and our own sun and solar system will share a similar fate. Maybe even the universe endures cycles of death and renewal. All materialistic entities are transient and impermanent. As far as we know, there exists only energy/Consciousness.
Is this perspective depressing? Not at all. Embracing the fragility and brevity of life fosters a profound sensitivity and reverence for life, transforming our existence into a precious opportunity. Each fleeting moment propels us forward, creating ripples of effect that extend into the future making us more cautious about our actions being wholesome. When we comprehend that a permanent separate ‘self’ is illusory; an illusion, the prospect of losing it through death is alleviated.
Grief will express itself when one ponders they no longer experiencing life in the human materialistic existence. Yet, if one understands there is no substantial separate I or me, then the idea of losing it through death is not a problem. It is by not comprehending the ground of the fundamental Universal Consciousness, through the mistaken psychological separation caused by the ignorance of the identification in a dualism and a Self, that the fear and angst of death appears. Instead, when one realizes that we are an integral part of Panpsychism, the ALL of Consciousness, the grief of loss disappears.
As Mary Elizabeth Frye expressed it poetically:
Do not stand at my grave and weepI am not there. I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry;I am not there. I did not die.
And my sentiments now about death…
When I die, bury me deep in a place where where my physical elements will support trees growing tall and flowers blossoming. My smile beneath will follow the colors spreading for joy. Mark not my place with statues or stones, find me where life can be found. My body will join the elements and energy of the universe and my consciousness will completely rejoin the Universal Consciousness from which I have always existed and continue on again for eternity in the cycle of life.
Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature. Federico Faggin: 2024 John Hunt Publishing
23 JanCOMPUTERS AND HUMAN NATURE
On Human Nature vs. Machines: “Man is not a machine; he is a spiritual being, expressing a depth of consciousness and emotion that transcends mere mechanical function.”
On the Danger of Misconception: “The idea that classical computers can become smarter than human beings is a dangerous fantasy. It is dangerous because if we accept this notion, we will inherently limit ourselves to expressing only a very small fraction of who we are, reducing the rich tapestry of human experience to mere computations.”
On Consciousness and Quantum Systems: “We are not even close to computers in terms of understanding the complexities of consciousness. While comparisons are often drawn, the reality is that the brain functions on an entirely different level. We are quantum systems, embodying a depth and intricacy that far surpasses that of artificial constructs.“
On Free Will: “Humanity stands at a significant crossroads. Either it chooses to return to the belief that it holds a fundamentally different nature than machines, or it risks being reduced to a mere machine among machines, losing the essence of what it means to be human.”
On Meaning and Understanding: “A computer ‘knows without knowing that it knows,’ highlighting a crucial distinction. It processes symbols without genuine understanding; there is no witness, no pause for reflection, and no self that engages in true comprehension of its actions or outputs.”
On the Limitations of AI: “AI cannot truly be empathic. The notion of ’empathic robots’ being developed to care for the elderly is overly simplistic and naive. Such claims fail to recognize the profound human capacity for empathy, which cannot be replicated through programmed responses or algorithms.”
The Awakening – Federico Faggin
20 JanIRREDUCIBLE- 2024 John Hunt Publishing
Top physicist and inventor of the microprocessor & touch screen, Federico Faggin, for an intriguing conversation into the nature of reality. Federico once had a materialistic scientific perspective on consciousness and reality until one day a spontaneous spiritual awakening changed his perspective forever. In this episode he shares that very experience and how it has shaped his current view on reality. With this deeper knowing, he spent decades researching reality, today he shares his findings. He reveals why computers can never be conscious, who we are our essence, what carries on after death, and our unbreakable connection to something larger than ourselves. He also discusses the very real force of love that underlies all things, the secret to spiritual growth, and why humans can never be replaced by artificial intelligence.
“Love is the feeling out of which all other feelings emerge.
It’s the force that motivates you to find out who you are.”
– Federico Faggin
The Hard Problem of Consciousness
David Chalmers formulated the “hard problem” of consciousness as the question of how and why neural activity in the brain gives rise to subjective experiences (qualia). Traditional science considers consciousness an emergent property of brain complexity, but Faggin offers a radically different perspective:
- Consciousness is fundamental and primary: it is not a byproduct of the brain but exists independently of matter.
- The material world is an expression of consciousness: rather than consciousness emerging from matter, matter itself is shaped by consciousness.
- The Self is irreducible and unified: each individual is a unique manifestation of a universal consciousness.
- Information alone cannot explain consciousness: unlike computers and AI, which process information but lack subjectivity and intentionality, consciousness involves direct experience.
Faggin proposes a reinterpretation of quantum mechanics based on the primacy of consciousness. He builds upon key quantum phenomena that challenge materialist views and integrates them into his metaphysical framework.
Federico Faggin’s Quantum Metaphysics
One of the most enigmatic and debated aspects of quantum mechanics is the collapse of the wavefunction. In the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, physical systems exist in a superposition of multiple states until they are observed. This raises the profound question: what causes the collapse of possibilities into a single reality?
Federico Faggin’s metaphysical interpretation suggests that consciousness itself plays an active role in this process. Rather than being a passive observer of an already-determined reality, consciousness participates in shaping what is actualized. In this view, observation is not merely an act of measurement but an act of creation, where consciousness determines the outcome of quantum potentialities.
This perspective aligns with interpretations of quantum mechanics that emphasize the role of the observer, such as the von Neumann–Wigner interpretation, but extends further by positing consciousness as the foundational element of reality rather than an emergent property of the brain.
This framework naturally leads to the idea that the universe is fundamentally interconnected, a notion strongly supported by the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. When two particles become entangled, their states remain correlated regardless of the distance between them, even across vast cosmic scales. The speed at which this correlation manifests exceeds the limits of classical physics, defying the constraints of locality.
If consciousness is indeed fundamental, then this interconnectedness might not be merely a physical anomaly but a reflection of a deeper unity within reality itself. The separation between objects, beings, and events could perhaps appears from our limited perception, while at the most fundamental level, all things are interwoven within a single, complex and conscious reality. This evokes the concept of Wholeness which is central to our research in the Science & Philosophy Institute.
However, contrasting with our approach, Faggin suggest that matter itself is not independent of consciousness but rather a manifestation of it. Classical physics treats matter as the fundamental substrate of reality, governed by deterministic laws. However, quantum mechanics reveals a world in which particles do not have fixed properties until they are measured, existing instead as a field of probabilities.
Faggin argues that these probabilities are not mere abstract mathematical constructs but expressions of consciousness interacting with the physical world. In this sense, what we perceive as “matter” is not an independent entity but rather the structured unfolding of consciousness into form. As such, the laws of physics do not emerge from an abstract mathematical framework but from an intrinsic intelligence embedded within reality itself.
This leads to a redefinition of information at the quantum level. In classical computation and physics, information is treated as a purely quantitative measure, devoid of intrinsic meaning. However, if consciousness is primary, then quantum information is not just numerical data—it is qualitative and experiential.
What Faggin proposes is not merely an extension of quantum theory but a profound rethinking of reality itself, where consciousness and matter are inseparably intertwined, and the universe is understood as a living, conscious whole.
A new Model of Reality: Internal and External Reality
Faggin introduces a dual model of reality, which he calls “Internal Reality” and “External Reality”:
- External Reality (Material World): the world described by classical and quantum physics, governed by objective laws but devoid of subjectivity.
- Internal Reality (Consciousness): the domain of subjective experience, intuition, and creativity.
According to Faggin, consciousness is not a byproduct of the brain but the fundamental essence from which the material universe emerges. Internal Reality shapes and informs External Reality.
If consciousness is fundamental and the universe is its manifestation, several profound implications arise:
- Science must integrate subjectivity: the purely objective study of reality is insufficient and a new paradigm is needed that acknowledges the active role of consciousness.
- Computers will never achieve consciousness: while AI can simulate intelligence, it will never possess true awareness, or a subjective experience deeply interconnected to its larger context.
- Quantum mechanics must be reinterpreted: the observer’s role is not just epistemological (as in the Copenhagen interpretation) but ontological.
- Life has an inherent purpose: if consciousness is primary, then the universe is not random or mechanical but follows an evolution guided by conscious purpose.
Federico Faggin’s theory offers a revolutionary perspective on consciousness and reality, proposing that consciousness is the fundamental essence of existence, while matter is merely one of its expressions. His theory provides a possible answer to the hard problem of consciousness and suggests a new interpretative framework for quantum mechanics, moving beyond reductionist materialism toward a metaphysical vision where each individual is a unique manifestation of the universal primeval consciousness.
Perceptual Relativity and the Observer Dependent Universe
6 JanReality appears to consist of a vast number, possibly an infinite number, of sensory worlds.
Each person has their own individual world. This is the world they perceive which is always different
from the world perceived by others. Variations exist from person to person due to each person
occupying different points in time and space and due to the quality of the individual person’s sense
organs. Each species has its own world due to the tendency for members of each species to have the
same sense organs which will tend to function in a similar way within each member of the species.
There seems to be no good reason for favoring any one of these sensory worlds over any other of
them. It seems impossible to claim that the human view of the world has any special claim to validity
when an alteration of our senses will give us different sense perceptions. How can you say what you
perceive is, when the same thing can be perceived with different sense organs and it can be something
quite different? If the human view was to be preferred it would be no more than a case of a human
centric view of the world that is not capable of any real justification.
Rochelle Forrester
Limitation to Understanding
20 OctThe Mysterious Universe
In this very short reading from my new book. I summarize why the Universe is mysterious to us and always will be. For a thorough explanation of this you can find my book on Amazon.
Neurobiology of Transformation
30 SepDr. Shiv D. Talwar is a founding member of Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. He also has served on its Board of Directors as its president since its very inception in year 2000. Shiv’s work is intended to be used for raising consciousness for the care of each other and that of the planet on which we live. Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. (SHEN) partners with Ubiquity University to offer degree programs in the Neurobiology of Transformation. While Ubiquity is a global university for inner and outer regeneration, science-based education which transforms the whole person, is the purpose of SHEN’s existence.
https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/podcasts/LABSJgHC2yvhHUmBtCLFm
Excerpt from Chapter 8 – The Garden of Eden- In this Life – Relative Truths
24 SepOther living species such as flowers have striking leaf patterns visible only in
the ultraviolet range of the spectrum, something that can only attract the attention of their pollinators, such as bees. A consequence of perceptual relativity and the observer-dependent universe is the realization that human’s worldview comprehends relatively little of what is available; hence, claimed hu
man knowledge and awareness of the external world and universe should be approached with guidance. In fact, individually, at any one moment, we each know a very small amount of our humanity’s total knowledge and our species knows very little of how the universe really is.
Our sensory apparatus was designed by evolution to help us in our everyday lives, enabling us to survive and thrive in our environment, but it is not designed to help us understand the complexity of the universe. None of us can know any absolute truths; our human minds are by their accustomed finite subject-object relationships in relativity. The best we can do is know many relative truths, some being much better relative truths than others.While relative certainty and wisdom are necessary for us in our everyday lives, ultimately, the fact that no human can know an absolute truth should lead
people to accept that uncertainty is a natural response to this lack of knowledge.
The Garden of Eden in This Life
10 Sep
Today is the launch of my new book- The Garden of Eden in This Life. It is available in paperback, hardcover and kindle on Amazon. The following is the book description. With Metta, Rodger Ricketts.
What if the story of the Garden of Eden wasn’t just ancient myth, but a timeless guide to reclaiming our original wholeness? What if the “fall” from innocence was not the end, but an invitation to return—consciously—to a deeper unity with ourselves, each other, and the world?
In The Garden of Eden in This Life, Dr. Rodger R. Ricketts—a clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and lifelong student of the Buddha’s teachings—unveils a profound perspective linking ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and the apophatic (negative) spiritual tradition. Drawing from over forty years of study and practice, he explores how non-dualistic teachings from Buddhism, science, and multiple faith traditions reveal the limits of language, the illusions of separation, and the path back to an integrated state of being.
You will journey through concepts like Sunyata (emptiness), the via negativa, and the psychology of transcendence—discovering how humanity’s separation from nature and spirit can be healed through direct experience, compassionate living, and expanded awareness.
This is more than a philosophical exploration—it’s a practical roadmap for living with clarity, joy, and interconnectedness. Through cross-cultural insights, reflective practices, and meditative approaches, Dr. Ricketts shows how embracing the ineffable mystery of life can dissolve division, foster ecological and social harmony, and restore our inner paradise.
Whether you are a seeker, a meditator, a student of comparative religion, or someone simply longing for a more meaningful existence, The Garden of Eden in This Life will inspire you to see beyond duality and step into a living experience of unity.
If you are ready to move beyond dogma, transcend the limits of language, and reawaken to the timeless ground of being—this book will guide you there.
Open these pages and begin your journey back to the Garden… in this life.
Enough is Enough- The cause of Social Suffering is not a Mystery
26 JulEnough is Enough- The cause of Suffering is not a Social Mystery
Author Rodger R Ricketts, Psy.D.
Copyright Rodger Ricketts Psy.D.,2025. All rights reserved. Protected by international copyright conventions. Reproduction is availble in case of brief quotations with due acknowledgement.
Decapitations, mass killings, enslavement, enforced starvation, abductions, sexual assaults, and the persistent plight of poverty and conflict are tragedies that have plagued humanity throughout history. Now, with the advent of modern mass communication, these heinous acts are revealed in their complete brutality as never before, making it impossible for anyone to ignore how critical the state of human suffering can be. This heightened awareness now provides a powerful motivation to put an end to such suffering.
Although the abuse of war and the inhuman attitude exhibited by people to fellow living beings is not new, the causes of such actions are revealing themselves more clearly. With the use of teachings offered by the Buddha we are now better able to remedy this and eventually stamp out these negative urges. The teachings of the Buddha, which are over 2,500 years, are increasingly applicable in the modern times, especially with the help of contemporary scientific discoveries. Through these teachings, a highly detailed model has been laid down which incorporates the use of moral and psychological understandings giving a clear and rational way to stop the suffering of ourselves, other people and living beings because of our ignorant and harmful intentions/actions.
This is a moment of excitement in humanity as we have a clear platform to develop a civilization with a harmonious relationship with the earth and its inhabitants. As opposed to the promises made in the past by different religious and philosophical movements, that favored one group and disadvantaged another, the vision advanced by the teachings of the Buddha and supported by modern science is not that at all. The new vision eliminates fixed identities and addresses the causes of conflict. What Buddha offers is a nonviolent, radical, yet functional way out of all that: a peaceful way out that can reduce and eventually remove the sufferings that has haunted humanity since its dawn. That misery contains a lot of distress that is caused by the ignorance of existence in human lives which creates a separation with reality. It is an important realization to help us cure the pain we both inflict and endure. This view can be summed up by a quote from the well-known physicist Albert Einstein: The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description.
It’s worth noting that not all people who suffer from violence experience it directly. This also impacts on the perpetrators of such acts. According to the Buddha, a person who chooses to commit violence out of anger, greed, ignorance, and selfishness has a deluded mindset. This is what lies behind the destructive behavior we witness in the world today and in the past. When this kind of mindset ignorance disappears, violence, greed, hostility, and selfishness will also disappear. The greatest benefit of the Buddha’s teachings is that when we learn and apply them in our lives, we will achieve happiness, compassion, dignity, and wisdom.
The time has come when the world needs to understand these doctrines, (not mystical, not esoteric doctrines), but Truths which are guidelines about human suffering and their solution, in a practical and factual manner. The Buddha never engaged in Esotericism, nor did he offer a metaphysical explanation of the suffering. Rather, by observing himself and others, he concluded that ignorance, a misperception of reality, was the true source of suffering. By eliminating this misunderstanding through Awakening, people can relieve themselves and others from suffering. The result of Awakening is peace, happiness and compassion with oneself and all living beings. We must recognize that we are all interconnected and interrelated.
The teachings of Buddha present to us an immense opportunity of overcoming our ignorance and living compatibly with a harmonious life. We are ready now to have a Renaissance- a new Renaissance that would incorporate contemporary insights including of psychology, ecology, neurology, biology, physics, etc. that would hold up the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha. This is the opportunity to make a remarkably positive future for humanity, it is the time to motivate a reformation, resulting in everyone being content and wise and suffering will no longer darken the face of this planet.
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 